A particularly grim day in 1940. Starting with news reports that France had appointed delegates to receive the German surrender terms. From the relocated French government in Bordeaux, Marshall Petain appealed to the French people, and the remaining French troops, to give up the War, that France had been defeated.

And while the appeals were going out and the envoys were readying to receive terms, the German Army were quickly advancing on all fronts, taking the important French Port city of Brest and the rumored capture of numerous French warships. What was left of the French Army had been separated into four areas and cut off from communication with each other. The German Army was also poised to take Paris.

All this had an uneasy affect on London, as it was reported that emergency cabinet meetings had taken place and plans for the defense of Britain were underway. Among those plans was the initial evacuation of some 20,000 children to Canada and the Dominions for the duration. The first ships were scheduled to convoy out in 2 weeks and offices handing the evacuation requests were flooded with applicants. It was widely believed that, now with the fall of France, Britain was facing Germany's Final Objective. German Bomber raids overnight hit the industrial cities of Billingham and Hull. The fires from Billingham could be seen for 30 miles. Reports from Berlin claimed they were reprisal bombings for British raids on German cities.

News from Washington initially came in the form of a bulletin that stated FDR made a surprising motion to form a Coalition Cabinet and the unprecedented move of appointing two high-ranking Republicans, Col. Frank Knox and Henry L. Stimson to the posts of Secretary of The Navy and Secretary of War, respectively. Knox was vice-Presidential Candidate for the Republicans in 1936 and Stimson was Secretary of State in the Hoover Administration and Secretary of War in the Taft Administration. The dismay came from the Republicans who felt it created damage to their 1940 Platform and it was purely a political move on FDR's part.

Another nail-biting day in history, this June 20, 1940, as reported on the NBC News Of The World.

Early(ish) Pink Floyd. This, from a session recorded around March of 1968 and issued as a single.

It Would Be So Nice is probably one of the more obscure singles in the Pink Floyd opus, having not done all that well, not issued in the States and relegated to a "Best Of" album, first released by EMI in Holland in 1970 before it was eventually included in later reissue packages of early Pink Floyd material.

This is one of the first sessions done without their guiding light, Syd Barrett. And even though it still has traces of the Barrett style, you can hear the beginnings of what would become the Pink Floyd of later years.

An interesting and somewhat overlooked Pink Floyd single from their transition phase.

This day in June in 1990 was a preview at what the future-around-the-corner was going to look like.

Starting with news of a Soviet Passenger jet, hijacked and landing in Helsinki with all aboard safe, and the hijacker in custody.

News of the Communist Party in Russia breaking away from the Soviet government and splintering into factions. News of a rift within the Solidarity Movement and concerns over the future leadership of Lech Walesa. News of Nelson Mandela, addressing an audience in Toronto, telling of South Africa on "the threshold of major change".

Meanwhile, back in the States; jury selection had been completed and the trial of Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry was set to begin. The trial, and its sensational attributes, was reported to be the biggest thing to hit D.C. in a long time.

In Arkansas, convicted killer John Edward Swindler was put to death by electrocution. The first death sentence carried out in the state since 1964. And promises of more to come.

A gunman who went on a rampage at a GM Auto Financing office, killing 9, himself and seriously wounding 5 others was linked to two other rampage killings the previous weekend. The gunman in question was also reported to have a previous record, going back to the 1960's, including a previous murder charge knocked down to an Agrevated Assault in 1971. Slipping through the legal system, yet again.

And Las Vegas welcomed the opening of it's biggest hotel, The Excalibur, with a reported 4,032 rooms.

All that, and only Tuesday from The CBS World News Roundup for June 19, 1990.

A radio session from Stockholm tonight. Most Likely one of the last for The Spencer Davis Group before the departure of Steve Winwood for Traffic.

Recorded for Sveriges Radio in February 1967, this session features two of the memorable hits by Spencer Davis, recorded live.

Here's the rundown for this short, but completely wonderful set:

Spencer Davis Group
Radiohuset, Stockholm, Sweden
February 1967

01. When I Come Home [2:40]
02. I''m a Man [3:31]
03. Gimme Some Lovin' [4:10]

History even comes in the form of music, especially this one.

News for this day in June, 1942 was about the War on all fronts.

Starting with reports from Australia that the War wasn't getting much in the way of newspaper space because of the monotony of the dispatches. However, on this day it was reported that Darwin had it's first raid-free day. The same couldn't be said for Port Moresby, as raids by some 18 Heavy Japanese bombers made up for Darwin's lack of action. The whole picture was painted in grim terms as General MacArthur, in an appeal for support of an Australian War Loan drive, said Australia was facing an imminent invasion and it was imperative they be prepared for it.

While on the air, a bulletin came through the newsroom that the Canadian Air Force and Anti-aircraft units had joined up with U.S. forces, for the first time, in the defense of Alaska over the invasion of the Aleutian Islands.

From Stockholm came reports that Berlin was counting on a Japanese Declaration of War against Russia within hours, and that the Russian-Japanese Friendship Pact signed a year earlier was now worthless. Reports also came through that the situation in North Africa was cautious, as Germany was experiencing difficulties with their Italian allies in the area of water supplies and dwindling morale.

From London the picture was a bit different, with news that British forces had withdrawn from El Aderri and Sidi Rezegh and that Rommel was making good his threat to cut off land communication between Tobruk and Egypt. It was also noted that the British Government voiced concern over the lessening of antagonism between Washington and the Laval Government of Vichy, despite reports that Laval had okayed sending idle French workers to Germany in an effort to shore up Berlin's lagging war production, since Laval had shut most non-essential industry in Occupied France.

From Washington came reports that the Sugar shortage was an on-again-off-again situation with wild discrepancies in rationing being noted. Also of concern on Capitol Hill was the recent signing of the Anglo-Soviet Pact which led many to wonder just where Moscow would be fitting in with the proposed United Nations and Post-War atmosphere in Europe.

And today marked the second anniversary of the Surrender of France.

All that and much more on this June 18, 1942 as reported by the NBC World News Roundup.

Continuing with radio transcriptions of the 1960's this week. Featuring the Hollywood Bowl debut of 25 year-old Wunderkind Indian Conductor Zubin Mehta, who began his long association with the orchestra in 1961 with this performance, featuring pianist Byron Janis, of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #3, recorded by the Armed Forces Radio Service on August 1, 1961.

Mehta was something of a shot-in-the-arm for the Orchestra, which had gone through much of the previous decade in the musical doldrums, highlighted by the occasional guest conductor or soloist. Mehta brought enthusiasm back to the orchestra and the audience, by introducing a lot of adventuresome programming and trying unconventional things. Who could ever forget the L.A. Phil and The Mothers Of Invention at UCLA? Zubin Mehta came along and was at the right place at the right time.

And this recording is right about where it all started.

Another one of those concerts that hasn't seen the light of day since it was recorded. Even though it was pressed by AFRTS for use overseas, it's not likely it got a lot of airplay. And it certainly hasn't been reissued.

So yes, we're looking at yet another rarity here. Lucky you.

A historic concert from Germany this weekend. Drummer Max Roach and a quartet featuring Clifford Jordan, tenor sax; Coleridge Perkinson, Piano; Eddie Khan, bass; and Abbey Lincoln, vocals, performing at the Sendessal in Bremen.

Recorded by Radio Bremen on February 15, 1964, this concert features the complete Freedom Now Suite for the next hour and 10 or so minutes.

'nuff said.

The problems associated with early live recordings of bands, particularly Rock bands, of the 60's, had mostly to do with the limitations of technology brought on by PA systems just not being able to handle the level of sound. It was very rare for an engineer at the time to actually record a band performance because, again, the limitations of technology and portable equipment were in their infancy. So a lot of early performance recordings were done by people in the audience, using battery powered reel-to-reel machines that were small enough to carry around on your shoulder, a microphone stuck in front of a stage speaker and hoping for the best because you couldn't hear anything once the band got started. And that's how the Bootleg industry was born.

Or, the local radio outlet would send a recording team and a truck loaded with equipment parked outside the venue and sometimes their own Sound system, and a decent recording was made and everybody was happy. Sometimes the band would release that live performance as an album and then the record company was happy. As time went on the technology evolved and companies such as the forward thinking Tychobrahe pioneered concert sound and the world was happy.

This weekend's Backstage is a performance that was recorded by one of those radio outlets. Sveriges Radio, the network in Sweden, sent a team to record the newly formed Traffic, who were performing in Stockholm in September of 1967.

Here is what you'll be hearing:

Traffic - Stockholm - Sept 12, 1967
Sveriges Radio

1. Giving To You
2. Smiling Phases
3. Coloured Rain
4. Hole In My Shoe
5. Feelin' Alright
6. Paper Sun
7. Dear Mr. Fantasy

Line up: Steve Winwood Dave Mason Chris Wood Jim Capaldi

Traffic during their exciting, formative period. Around the time their first album was released.

The sound is surprisingly good but a little quiet in places (particularly during announcements). But for a historic document, a wonderful glimpse into a band that went on to become a legend in Rock, whose music is still enjoyed and discovered by new fans, this is quite amazing.

Enjoy.

In what began as the dedication of a memorial to members of the 35th Infantry Division, of which Harry Truman was Captain of the 129th Field Artillery during World War 1, turned into a much anticipated speech on Foreign Policy which Truman delivered in a nationwide address on June 11, 1949.

In his address, Truman warned of dire consequences if Congress went ahead in slashing funds for European recovery, saying the only thing to gain from it would be Communism. He urged for stronger commitment to a stable European economy and a stronger United Nations in order to deal with conflicts abroad.

Here is that address, as broadcast over CBS Radio on June 11, 1949.

Hitting some familiar territory tonight, if you happen to be a fan of mid-late 60's Bay Area bands. The Mojo Men were originally signed to San Francisco Disc Jockey Tom Donohue's Autumn Records (the label that gave the world The Beau Brummels) and shepherded by A&R whiz Sylvester "Sly" Stewart (of eventual Sly & The Family Stone fame). But greener pastures were calling in the form of Warner Brothers Records and The Mojo Men (with one of the first female drummers, Jan Errico nee: Ashton) turned in a smash hit in 1967 with the Stephen Stills penned number Sit Down, I Think I Love You, which we're playing tonight.

The greener pastures didn't last all that long, and The Mojo Men were quietly relegated to "one-hit-wonder" status. Even though they had a sizable catalog of material, none of it clicked with top-40 radio audiences and they quietly faded into the Rock n' Roll sunset.

Sadly, the story of way too many bands - and one that repeats almost daily.